Automatic case cleaning machine



May 9, 1961 J. J. HOHENADEL ET AL 2,982,985

AUTOMATIC CASE CLEANING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1961 J. J. HOHENADEL ETAL. 2,982,985

AUTOMATIC CASE CLEANING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 25, 1957 IN VEN TORS. Jay/v J fi o/V64 4 4 A4 6.587 JEFF-57 rename/c4- M fuzz an;

May 9, 1961 J. J. HOHENADEL. ET AL AUTOMATIC CASE CLEANING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 May 9, 1961 J. J. HOHENADEL ET AL 2,982,985

AUTOMATIC CASE CLEANING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 25, 1957 Till III I III INVENTORS. Jol/A/ J Mann/17.954 maze? JQFFH Aeewaem/r M fume/r5 BY a 'rmen/zfir May 9, 1961 J. J- HOHENADEL ET AL AUTOMATIC CASE CLEANING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed March 25, 1957 May 9,' 1961 J. J. HOHENADEL ETAL 2,

AUTOMATIC CASE CLEANING MACHINE Filed March 25, 1957 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 States atent Fatented May 9,, 1961 AUTOMATIC CASE CLEANING MACHINE Filed Mar. 25, 1957, Ser. No. 648,295

21 Claims; (Cl. -308) Our invention relates to a machine for automatically cleaning refuse and debris from empty, returned shipping cases such as are ordinarily used as containers for bottles, cans, glass jars, paper cartons or similar articles whereby the cases may be re-used and put back in service in a sanitary condition. The invention particularly relates to an automatic cleaning and sanitizing machine for shipping cases of the type that are closed by folded flap extensions on the'side and end walls to form the tops, such cases being made of corrugated board or fibre-board. However, our machine can also satisfactorily be used for cleaning cases which do not have flaps and which may be made of other materials, such as wood or sheetmetal.

It has been found economical and desirable to re-use shipping cases in industrial and commercial use in order to cut the cost to the consumer in the distribution of goods. This is particularly true in the food industry, especially in bottled or canned liquids such as milk, carbonated beverages or beer. However, the returned cases all must be cleaned of trash, debris and refuse such as cigarette butts, broken glass, stones, garbage and electro-statically attracted dust and lint, all of which inevitably find their way in while the cases are in the hands of the consumer. Since the cleaning operation must necessarily be economical in cost, it is necessary that it be performed rapidly and without subjecting the cases to deformation or other damage or undue rough treatment. Furthermore, it is desirable to process the cases continuously on a high speed production line basis from the receiving department without likelihoodof jam ups.

It is, therefore, an object of our invention to provide an automatic case cleaning machine which is capable of removing debris and refuse from used shipping containers at high speed without subjecting them to damage or deformation by rough treatment.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic case cleaning machine wherein the shipping cases may be handled on a production line preparatory to repacking Without any jam ups.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic case cleaning machine wherein the shipping cases may be thoroughly cleansed and sanitized under optimum conditions so that the removed debris will not contaminate the surrounding area or fall back into already processed containers. I

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic case cleaning machine wherein those shipping cases having top flaps will be under constant controlwithout danger of causing jams within the machine.

Another object of our invention is to provide an automatic case cleaning machne wherein each shipping case is inverted during the cleaning. operation and reinverted as it is discharged therefrom whereby the repacking of the case may be accomplished immediately in a normal sequential operation.

Other objects of our invention are. to provide an improved device ofthe character described, that is easily and economically produced, which is sturdy in construction,

and which is highly efiicient in operation.

With the above and related objects in view, our invention consists in the details of construction and combination of parts, as will be more fully understood from the following description, when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective view of an automatic case cleaning machine embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front end view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken along lines 4-4 of.

Fig. 2.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view taken along lines 1111 of Fig. 4. i

Fig. 12. is a fragmentary perspective view showing a refuse hopper for constraining the fall of debris.

Referring now in greater detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts, we show an automatic case cleaning machine comprising a housing, generally designated as A, in which returned shipping cases, generally designated as B, enter therein.

at the lower portion thereof and are carried through a substantially S-shaped track wherein each case is inverted and reinverted during its longitudinal travel through the system.

A preliminary outline of the principal motions as articulated by our machine will facilitate an understanding of the details to follow.

Referring to Figs. Band 4, the cases B, in upright posi tion, enter'the machine at the lower left hand portion thereof from a belt or roller conveyor after the cases have been emptied of e.g. their bottle contents by hand or suitable unloading apparatus. The cases are ordinarily made of corrugated board or fiber-board and in the event hinged flaps which form the top thereof extend from the vertical side and end walls, these flaps are folded back into a substantially horizontal plane. Synchronizing means, generally designated as C, pick one case of a longitudinally stacked line in timed relationship with respect to subsequent operations which are to be performed thereon. Rejecting means, generally designated as D, for preventing unsynchronized cases from entering the timed system are also incorporated at the entrance of the machine and are cooperatively associated with the synchronizing means C. The synchronizing means C which comprises a plurality of tow bars on an endless belt arrangement draws the cases along a horizontal longitudinal path whereupon an inversion wheel, generally designated as E, engages the rearward end of one case' at the proper moment and rotatably carries one case at a time through an arcuate path concentric with the center of the wheel. It is to be observed that in the instance of those cases having hinged flaps forming the top thereof, these flaps are maintained under control so that the case is retained in opened position during its entire travel through the machine in either upright or inverted'condition or any intermediate position therebetweenwithout jamming or locking with any of the machine mechanism or with an adjacent case. v

After each case is inverted by the wheel E, it is drawn along a short horizontal path directly above cases which are about to be conveyed into the inversion cycle, deflection means being provided upon the wheel itself to directionally control refuse falling downwardly from the upper inverted cases. At the end of its rotatable stroke, the wheel E deposits each case upon a dwell station F during which time, the case is subjected to a cycle of vibrations imposed by an oscillating beating mechanism G which loosens any residual debris and causes it to fall into a refuse slide H. During this brief dwell period, the interior of each case has blasts of air directed therein subsequently followed by a spray of insecticide.

The case is then picked up by a reversion wheel I, whose rotation is 90 degrees out of phase with' the inversion wheel E, the out of phase relationship of the conveying fingers of the respective wheels permitting the dwell period at the station F. The reversion wheel I then conveys the case B through an arcuate path to rotate the case so that its open end is up and discharges the sanitized case upon a conveyor preparatory to repacking and reshipment to the consumer.

It is important to note that our automatic case cleaning machine reprocesses cases at the rate of approxi' mately 30 per minute, the total period of time from entrance to discharge from the machine for each case being approximately 4 seconds.

The housing A comprises a pair of side walls and 12, an end wall 14 and a base 16, the latter having a plurality of adjustable legs 18 mounted therein for leveling the machine upon a ground or floor surface. A variable speed motor drive 20 provides the power for operating the various elements described hereinbefore through an integrated belt and pulley system 22. See Fig. 3.

The shipping cases B enter the machine from a conventional gravity-operated roller conveyor 24, the flaps of the cases being folded back into a plane generally parallel with the ground. A pair of spaced side rails 26 and 26a extending inwardly from the side walls 10 and 12 of the housing guide the cases into a central disposition upon idler rollers 27 with regard to the longitudinal path which the cases will follow throughout the machine. It is to be observed that guide rail 26 is shown in a second position as indicated by the broken lines to provide for lateral adjustment which will accommodate cases of various widths. Downwardly extending flap control rails 28 are adjustably mounted with the housing A and prevent the hinged case flaps from closing' inwardly toward each other while outwardly turned flanges 29 on the guide rails control downward flap divergence. See Figs. 4 and 6.

The cases are conveyed between the guide rails 26 and 26a by a plurality of tow bars 30 carried between a pair of continuously operated flight chains 32. These chains are driven at their right hand side by sprockets 34 operated by the chain drive 22 from the drive motor 20, the left hand side of the chains being sprocketed upon and driving a capstan roller 36 situated intermediate the roller bed 27. A plurality of idler sprockets 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41 direct the chains 32 about their peripheral orbit both above and below the roller bed and insure proper tension and alignment between the flight bars 30.

The train of cases which enter the left hand side of the machine are urged by the capstan roller 36 against a pair of spring-loaded stops 42 spaced above the roller bed 26 immediately above the idler sprocket 38. It is to be particularly observed that only a case positively driven by a flight bar 30 engaging its rearward end wall thereof will press through the stops 42 by urging them apart. Note also that the second case in line, subsequent to the case immediately against the stops 42, carnot be engaged at its back wall by a flight bar because the spacing between the capstan roller 36 and the stops is only sufficient to permit a tow bar to positively pick up one case at a time. Therefore, any case which is not in proper timed relationship will be rejected since the tow bar will merely functionally pass under the lower surface of that case, the force being insutficient to press it beyond the stops. It is only when a flight bar 30 of the synchronizing means C engages the rearward wall of a particular case that the stops 42 of the rejecting means D will permit that case to pass through the system in proper timed and synchronized relation with the subsequent operations which are to be performed. As soon as a case passes through and beyond the rejecting mechanism D, the spring loaded arms 42 swing inwardly toward each other to properly synchronize all subsequent cases.

Each case is then carried through a horizontal guide way along tracks 44 supported along rods 45 extending between the side walls 10 and 12. Adjustable side rails 46 again maintain the axial positioning of the cases while downwardly extending flap rails 48 secure the case flaps under control and from closing inwardly as each tow bar 30 carries its box or case to the end of its horizontal travel position, the inversion wheel E in synchronization therewith engages that case from the back end wall preparatory to conveying it through a degree semi-circular or arcuate path. The inversion wheel E comprises a pair of spaced discs 50 axially supported upon a transversely supported hub 52, the latter being rotatably driven in a counter clockwise direction by the chain-drive 22. At diametrically opposite positions upon each of the discs 50 are tangentially extending pick-up fingers 53 and 54, each pair of fingers being arranged 180 degrees apart in opposite directions. See Figs. 4 and 10. Spaced outboard of the discs 50 and affixed to the hub 52 are a pair of circular plates 55 and 56 which function to limit the inward hinging or folding of the case flaps during the arcuate travel of the case. Resiliently affixed to the hub 52 and outwardly extending therefrom along a plane commensurate with the diagonal between opposite pick-up fingers 53 and S4 is a deflection web 58 which interconnects the discs 50 and the circular flap control plates 55. The web 58 provides for the directional control of refuse falling from the case during its inversion whereby loose refuse falling from the case being inverted will not fall into a case below. It is thus seen that the directional control of refuse is also synchronized with the flight bars and rejection mechanism by way of longitudinal spacing of each case from subsequent cases. Semi-circular tracks 60 concentric with the orbit of the inversion wheel E are adjustably secured to the end wall 14 of the housing and from the exterior peripheral path for the bottom of the cases during inversion. Arcuate side rails 62 also concentric with the orbit of the inversion wheel E are adjustably secured to the side Walls 10 and 12 and orient the cases laterally during inversion. It is to be noted that the guide rails 62 can be adjusted laterally to accommodate various case widths.

Attention is invited to the fact that the deflection fingers 53 and 54 alternately pick up the rear end wall of successive cases from the flight bars 30 and carry them in an arcuate path for inversion, the shipping case flaps being retained in an open position by the flap control plates 55. When the case is inverted, the deflection web 58 diverting the loose refuse from falling down into a subsequent box but only into trash cans 64 and 66 below. Arcuate walls 68 and 70 which converge inwardly toward each other act as flap control while the cases are inverted. These walls also appropriately control the loose refuse from the cases at the top of their inversion cycle and direct this refuse into the trash cans 64 and 66.

At the top of the inversion wheel stroke, the cases with their top portion downward are carried upon horizontally pronged support tracks 72 between horizontal guides 74 until their forward travel has stopped as a result of the rotatable motion of the inversion wheel E.

gers of the reversion wheel I are 90 degrees out of phase with the fingers of wheel E. See Fig. 4.

At the dwell station F, the inverted case is subjected to the vibratory oscillations of the beater G which comprises an eccentrically mounted impeller 76 having outwardly extending arms 78. The ends of the arms 78 are curved convexly downward and bear upon the bottom of the inverted cases thereby serving to shake loose any residual debris trapped within shallows or cornersof the cases. During the same interval, blasts of air directed from air jets 80 are directed into the interior of each resting case, the refuse dropping into the hopper I-I. See Figs. 4, 8 and 9. l

The hopper H is an open mouthed or funneled slide 82 having a side wall 84 for maintaining the fall of the refuse restrained. Referring to Fig. 8, the refuse falls down the slide 82 and drops down upon an exterior wall slide 84a whereupon it is directed into trash cans 86. As seen in Fig. 4, the side wall 84 has a spring positioned deflector 88 hinged to the upper edge thereof which acts as a funnel for the splattering debris. Thedeflector 88 has a pair of slo-tstherein for permitting passage therethrough of the inversion wheel fingers during its downward rotatable path. Should a temporary jam occur, as for example, a bottle or fragment trapped between the deflector and the inversion wheel fingers, the deflector 88 will hingedly yield downwardly to relieve any obstruction. The inversion wheel I which is approximately 90 degrees out of phase with the inversion wheel E is driven in a clockwise direction and comprises a pair of spaced discs 90 axially supported upon an axle 92, the latter being driven by the chain 22. Each of the discs 90 has a pair of oppositely disposed tangential pick up fingers 94 and 96. Since the flaps of the case are directed outwardly at this section, no flap control plates are required on the reversion wheel. However,

a pair of semi-circular flap guides 98 are adjustably se-' cured to the side walls of the housing A and serve tomaintain a parallel disposition of the flaps with the bottom of the case. Peripheral rails 100 concentric with the axle 92 maintain the longitudinal arcuate path of the case while guide rails 10?. align the lateral disposition thereof. At an intermediate point of the case reversion, a spray nozzle 104 directs a spray of insecticide at a proper timed moment whereby the case will be effectively deodorized and sanitized. As the reversion wheel I carries the case through the arcuate guideway, the case is deposited, open-side up upon sloped rails 106 wherein further rotation of the reversion wheel causes discharge therefrom past a hinged closure gate 108 between adjustable guide rails 110. The cleaned and sanitized cases then coast down a conventional roller conveyor 112 preparatory to repacking with bottled or canned products for reshipment to the consumer.

Although our invention has been described in considerable detail, such description is intended as being illustrative rather than limiting, since the invention may be variously embodied, andthe scope of the invention is to be determined as claimed.

We claim:

1. In an automatic case cleaning machine, a vertically disposed conveyor comprising a housing, an arcuate guideway within said housing, and an inversion wheel rotatably supported in said housing and having an orbit concentric with said arcuate guideway, said inversion wheel comprising a pair of outwardly extending fingers arranged on diametrically opposite portions of said wheel, and a pair of circular plates axially aligned with said wheel rotatable therewith and disposed outboard thereof, each of said fingers being adapted to abut the rearward portion of alternate cases for longitudinal conveyance through said guideway, said circular plates maintaining hinged flaps on each of said cases in a plane parallel to the bottom thereof.

2. In an automatic case cleaning machine, a vertically disposed conveyor comprising 'a housing, an arcuate guideway in said housing, and an inversion wheel irotably supported in said housing and having an orbit con-, centric with said arcuate guideway, said inversion wheel comprising a pair of spaced discs aifixed to a hub, each of said discs having a pair of tangentially disposed fingers thereon, each pair of said fingers being arranged at diametrically opposite portions of said discs, and a pair of flap control plates aflixed upon saidhub outboard of said discs whereby each of said fingers will engage the rearward portion of a case for conveyance through said guideway and, said flap control plates will maintain hinged flaps on said cases in an outwardly diverging disposition. v

3. In an automatic case cleaning machine, a conveyor comprising a housing, a substantially s-shaped continuous guidewayvertically disposed in said housing, an in version wheel concentric with the lower looped portion of said S-shaped guideway, and a reversion wheel concentric with the upper looped portion of said guideway, said inversion wheel having a pair of tangentially disposed pick-up fingers thereon at diametrically opposite positions thereof, said reversion wheel having ,a pair of tangentially disposed pick-up fingers thereon 180 degrees apart, said' wheels tangentially cooperating and being rotatably driven in opposite directions degrees out of phase with each other whereby a dwell cycle will be aflorded intermediate said wheels for a case being transferred from said inversion wheel to said reversion wheel.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein oscillating beating means are provided at said dwell cycle, said beating means being synchronized only with an inverted case positioned within said dwell cycle portion.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein a plurality of air jets are directed into the interior of the case during the dwell cycle.

6. The invention of claim 5 wherein a chute slide is secured to said housing below said beating means for directing the flow of refuse emptied from said cases.

7. In an automatic case cleaning machine, a conveyor comprising a housing, a substantially S-shaped continuous guideway vertically disposed in said housing, an inversion wheel concentric with the lower looped portion of said S-shaped guideway, and a reversion wheel cone centric with the upper looped portion of said guideway, said inversion wheel having at least one tangentially disposed pick-up finger thereon, said reversion wheel having at least one tangentially disposed pick-up finger thereon, out of phase with said first mentioned fingers, said wheels tangentially cooperating and being rotatably driven in opposite directions with each other whereby a dwelling cycle will be afforded intermediate said wheels for a case being transferred fromsaid inversion wheel to said 7 reversion wheel.

8. In an automatic case cleaning machine, a conveyor comprising a closed housing, an arcuate stationary guide way vertically disposed'in said housing, an inversion arm rotatably supported in said housing concentric with said guideway, a circular member axially spaced on each side' of said inversion arm and rotatable therewith, and horizontal rails in combing engagement with the upper periphery of said circular members whereby cases having open side flaps thereon deposited at the lower portion of said guideway will be longitudinally. conveyed therethrough arm to define a dwell period on said horizontal rails, and a beater synchronized with said dwell period subjecting paused cases to vibration.

10. In an automatic case cleaning machine, a conveyor comprising a closed housing, an arcuate stationary guideway vertically disposed in said housing, an inversion wheel rotatably supported in said housing concentric with said guideway, a finger tangentially extending from said wheel, arcuate flap control means in said housing axially spaced on each side of said inversion wheel and substantially registering with the periphery thereof, and horizontal rails in combing engagement with the upper periphery of said inversion wheel whereby cases longitudinally conveyed through said guideway will be inverted therein and open side flaps on the cases will be maintained in controlled open position during inversion.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein a horizontal guideway communicates with the lower periphery of said arcuate guideway, a plurality of longitudinally-spaced, laterally extending tow bars driven in an endless chain about said horizontal guideway and depositing one case upon said arcuate guideway with each revolution of said inversion wheel.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein laterally spaced, spring-loaded stops inwardly extend from the sides of said housing longitudinally spaced from the entrance to said tow bar chain a distance greater than the length of one case but less than twice the length thereof whereby all cases passing through the stops will be synchronized with the conveyor.

13. In an automatic case cleaning machine, a conveyor comprising a closed housing, a generally S-shaped guideway longitudinally extending in three tiers within said housing and defining a lower inversion arcuate loop and an upper reversion arcuate loop respectively, a pair of axially spaced inversion discs rotatably supported within said housing concentric with the lower loop, a pair of inversion fingers tangentially extending diametrically from each of said discs, a circular member axially spaced outboard of each of said discs and rotatable therewith, the periphery of each of said discs being radially spaced from the lower loop, a reversion wheel rotatably supported within said housing concentric with the upper loop, a pair of reversion fingers outwardly extending diametrically from said reversion wheel and having a peripheral are substantially tangential with the peripheral arc of said inversion fingers, said reversion wheel being driven at the same rotational speed as said inversion discs and said reversion fingers being 90 out of phase with said inversion fingers to define a dwell cycle, the bottom of the second tier being in combing engagement with said inversion discs and the bottom of said reversion wheel respectively, and an oscillating beater in said housing at said second tier synchronized with the dwell cycle whereby cases having opened side flaps thereon entering said lower loop will be inverted therein, said circular plates maintaining the flaps outwardly during inversion and said heater cleansing the interior of each inverted case duringthe dwell cycle, thereafter the cases being automatically reinverted.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein a deflection web is secured intermediate said inversion discs and being 90' displaced to said inversion fingers.

15. The invention of claim 13 wherein a plurality of longitudinally-spaced, laterally extending tow bars are driven in an endless chain about a capstan roller and a drive roller, the upper periphery of said tow bars longitudinally registering with the lower tier of said S-shaped guideway, a pair of laterally spaced spring-loaded stops inwardly extending from the sides of said housing spaced above said tow bars, said stops being longitudinally spaced from said capstan roller greater than the length of one case but less than twice the length thereof whereby all cases passing through the stops will be synchronized with the conveyor.

16. In an automatic case cleaning machine, a conveyor comprising a housing, an arcuate inversion guideway vertically disposed in said housing, pusher means for longitudinally driving cases through said guideway, and arcuate flap extending means within said guideway and associated with said pusher means maintaining flaps on the cases in restricted outwardly diverging disposition during inversion whereby the cases will be inverted with the flaps thereof fully opened and under positive control to permit emptying of refuse without jamming.

17. The invention of claim 16 wherein vibrational heater means disposed in said guideway and associated with said pusher means resiliently bears upon and subjects each of the inverted cases to vibratory oscillations whereby refuse particles adhering to the interior of the cases will be loosened therefrom and fall of their own weight.

18. In an automatic case cleaning machine, a conveyor comprising a housing, an arcuate inversion guideway vertically disposed in said housing, a case inverting memher rotatably supported in said housing andradially extending within said guideway, and arcuate flap extending means associated with said inverting member and rotatable therewith maintaining flaps on the cases in restricted outwardly diverging disposition whereby the cases will be inverted with the flaps thereof in opened position under positive control.

19. The invention of claim 18 wherein vibrational beater means synchronized with said inverting member in said guideway resiliently bears upon and subjects the inverted cases to oscillations.

20. The invention of claim 18 wherein a plurality of air jets synchronized with said case inverting member direct blasts of air into the interior of the inverted cases and blow free residual refuse particles adhering therein.

21. In an automatic case cleaning machine, a conveyor comprising a housing, an arcuate guideway vertically disposed in said housing, an inversion wheel rotatably supported in said guideway and having an orbit substantially concentric therewith, at least one finger outwardly extending from said inversion wheel for longitudinally driving cases through said guideway, and flap control members axially spaced on each side of said wheel and rotatable therewith whereby flaps on the cases will be maintained in opened outwardly diverging disposition during inversion of the cases.

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